A Prayer on Palm Sunday

Suffering God,
open our hearts to the many abuses
of human life, liberty, and dignity.
We believe that in each person is found the Creator’s image
and that everyone who tramples it offends God.
As holy defender of God’s rights and of his images,
the Church is called to cry out.
It endures as spittle in its face,
as lashes on its back,
as the cross in its passion,
all that human beings suffer, even unbelievers.
Whoever tortures a human being,
whoever outrages a human being,
abuses God’s image.
The Church takes as its own that cross, that martyrdom.
Give us the courage to accompany those who suffer, speak truth,
and fight injustice in the name of Jesus, the suffering Messiah.
Amen.
[Based on Saint Oscar Romero’s words from December 31, 1977, in the compendium
The Violence of Love]